12: Prosocial behaviour

Question 1

The desire to help another person, even if it involves a cost to the helper, is called:

Answer 1

Altruism

Question 2

The qualities that cause an individual to help others in a wide variety of situations is called an:

(Hint: AP)

Answer 2

Altruistic Personality

Question 3

The finding that the greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less likely any one of them is to help is called the:

(Hint: BE)

Answer 3

Bystander Effect

Question 4

The idea that when we feel empathy for a person, we will attempt to help that person for purely altruistic reasons, regardless of what we have to gain, is called the:

(Hint: E-AH)

Answer 4

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

Question 5

The ability to put oneself in the shoes of another person and to experience events and emotions (e.g. joy, sadness) the way that person experiences them, is called:

Answer 5

empathy.

Question 6

The group in which the individual identifies as a member, is called the:

(Hint: I-G)

Answer 6

In-Group

Question 7

The idea that behaviours that help a genetic relative are favoured by natural selection, is called:

(Hint: KS)

Answer 7

Kin Selection

Question 8

The expectation that helping other will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future, is called the:

(Hint: NoR)

Answer 8

Norm of Reciprocity

Question 9

Any group with which an individual does not identify, is called an:

(Hint: O-G)

Answer 9

Out-Group

Question 10

The case in which people think that everyone else in interpreting a situation in a certain way, when in fact they are not, is called:

(Hint: PI)

Answer 10

Pluralistic Ignorance

Question 11

Any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person is called:

(Hint: PB)

Answer 11

Prosocial Behaviour

Question 12

The theory that people living in cities are constantly bombarded with stimulation and that they keep to themselves to avoid being overwhelmed by it, is called the:

(Hint: UOH)

Answer 12

Urban Overload Hypothesis

Question 13

What are the 3 basic human motives for underlying prosocial behaviour?

Answer 13

1. Evolution and genes.
2. Social exchange theory.
3. Empathy and altruism.

Question 14

According to evolutionary theories, what 3 things cause prosocial behaviour?

Answer 14

1. Kin selection.
2. Norms of reciprocity.
3. Group selection.

Question 15

According to evolutionary theories, how does kin selection encourage prosocial behaviour?

Answer 15

Behaviours that help a genetic relative are favoured by natural selection.

Question 16

According to evolutionary theories, how do norms of reciprocity encourage prosocial behaviour?

Answer 16

The expectation that helping others will increase the likelihood they help us in the future.

“You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.”

Question 17

According to evolutionary theories, how does group selection encourage prosocial behaviour?

Answer 17

Social groups with altruistic members are more likely to survive in competition with other groups.

Question 18

How does Social Exchange Theory explain prosocial behaviour?

Answer 18

People help others in order to maximise social rewards and minimise social costs.

Question 19

What theory is used to explain the role of empathy and altruism in encouraging prosocial behaviour?

(Hint: E-AH)

Answer 19

The Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

Question 20

How does the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis explain how empathy and altruism encourage prosocial behaviour?

Answer 20

When people feel empathy towards another person, they feel motivated to help them for purely altruistic reasons.

Question 21

What are the 5 variables that influence why some people help more than others?

(Hint: PGCRM)

Answer 21

1. Personality
2. Gender roles
3. Culture
4. Religion
5. Mood

Question 22

How does personality influence levels of helping?

Hint: AP

Answer 22

The Altruistic Personality

Question 23

Is personality a strong predictor of helping?

Answer 23

No.

Question 24

How does gender roles influence helping?

Answer 24

Men are socialised to be chivalrous and heroic.

Women are socialised to be helpful in long-term close relationships.

Question 25

How does culture influence levels of helping?

Answer 25

We help in-group members out of empathy. We help out-group members to feel good about ourselves or make a good impression on others.

Question 26

How does religion influence levels of helping?

Answer 26

Religious people are more likely to help others when others will see it.

Question 27

How does mood influence levels of helping?

Answer 27

People are more likely to help if they are in either an extremely good or bad mood.

Question 28

What are the 5 social determinants of prosocial behaviour?

Answer 28

1. Environment.
2. Residential mobility.
3. Number of bystanders.
4. Nature of relationships.
5. Media influence.

Question 29

How does environment determine prosocial behaviour?

Answer 29

People are less likely to help in dense, urban areas.

Question 30

What is one explanation as to why people in dense, urban areas are less likely to engage in prosocial behaviour?

(Hint: UOH)

Answer 30

Urban Overload Hypothesis

Question 31

How does residential mobility determine prosocial behaviour?

Answer 31

People who have lived in one place for a long time are more likely to help others nearby.

Question 32

How does the number of bystanders determine prosocial behaviour?

(Hint: BE)

Answer 32

The Bystander Effect

Question 33

How does the nature of relationships determine prosocial behaviour?

Answer 33

1. Communal relationships.

2. Exchange relationships.

Question 34

How do communal relationships affect prosocial behaviour?

Answer 34

The primary concern is the welfare of another persons, so they will be inclined to help them without being concerned about seeking potential benefits.

Question 35

How do exchange relationships affect prosocial behaviour?

Answer 35

Concerned with gaining equity, they will only help others if they believe it is beneficial to them.

Question 36

How does the media influence prosocial behaviour?

Answer 36

Playing a prosocial video game or listening to a prosocial song makes people more likely to help others.

Question 37

What are 2 main ways of promoting prosocial behaviour?

Answer 37

1. Reduce the bystander effect.

2. Use positive psychology.

Question 38

How does reducing the bystander effect promote prosocial behaviour?

Answer 38

Teaching people about the barriers to bystander intervention increases the likelihood they will help in emergencies.

Question 39

How does positive psychology promote prosocial behaviour?

Answer 39

Focus on people’s strengths and virtues, rather than mental disease. Explore conditions under which people will act in more helpful ways to promote helping behaviours.